Boris Johnson Masks Are Everywhere At London City Hall Protest

Boris Johnson may be about to replace Guy Fawkes as the most common model for masks worn to political demonstrations.

In scenes that must have shocked Labour party supporters, people in Boris masks and blonde wigs descended on City Hall on Saturday.

But this was not a scene from a reboot of 'Dawn Of The Dead' with the Zombies replaced by the current Mayor of London, it was campaigners dressed as "bad Borises" staging a protest that called on the Greater London Authority (GLA) to end its relationship with fossil fuels.

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The demonstration included pensioners, faith groups, unions, medical professionals, students, activists, London boroughs and footballers in a show of determination to act on climate change by severing the city's financial ties with oil, gas and coal companies.

In scenes particularly reminiscent of zombies, the Borises all devoured "oil".

The event was part of Global Divestment Day - calling for an end to investment in coal, gas and oil as part of efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change.

The protesters want the GLA to publicly commit to avoiding all investments in fossil fuels, and to use their power to pressure the London Pension Fund to divest, and provide fossil free investment options.

Sunniva Taylor, a member of Divest London that organised the demonstration, said: "We had lots of people in Boris masks. We'd prepared some Boris masks, but people came in their own suits.

"Lots of people had extended their stomachs with padding and blonde wigs. And they've been dancing around causing trouble all day."

The Divest London protest

She added: "We are London citizens who want our city to be a clean, safe place to live, well into the future. We know we have to leave over 80% of fossil fuels in the ground if we are to have any chance of preventing catastrophic climate change, and we know that clean green affordable alternatives exist.

"At this pivotal moment in history it is illogical and immoral for our public institutions - including City Hall, churches and universities - to be investing in companies that want to extract more fossil fuels."

Global Divestment Day is part of an international movement which began in 2012 and has seen organisations such as philanthropic foundations and universities pull investment from fossil fuel companies.

Danielle Paffard, UK divestment campaigner at 350.org, said: "The British public's engagement with the UK divestment movement has been overwhelming and has sent a clear message to this stagnant industry.

"Investors are now turning their backs on coal, oil and gas companies because they are no longer a safe bet. This is the first global step towards showing how divestment is crucial to addressing the global impact that this industry is having on our climate and human health."